Cleaner for sifting screens



C. R. DIMM CLEANER FOR SIFTING SCREENS Nov. -17 1925.

Filed Ma rch 26, 1 925 Patented Nov. 17, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHANDOS ROY DIMM, OF MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBINSON MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF MUNCY, PENNSYLVANIA, A

SYLVANIA.

CORPORATION OF PENN- CLEANER FOR SIFTING SCREENS.

Application filed March 26, 1925. Serial No. 18,490.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHANDosR. DIMM, a

citizen of the United .States, residing at Muncy, in the county ofLycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useing screensadapted to be used in connection with various sifting mechanisms and ofthat type disclosed by Patent No. 218,530, dated August 12, 1879, andthe purpose of the present improvement is to provide a simple andeffective jarring or agitating means for a sifting screen which willprevent the meshes of the latter from clogging or filling with thematerial passing thereover during the sifting operation.

Previous to the present invention, and as disclosed in the patent abovenoted, loose balls have been arranged upon the upper surface of ascreen-like or reticulated bottom of suitable mesh and confined incompartments for vibratory impact with relation to the screen above, tothereby the said upper screen and dislodge any material which mightadhere to the same or clog its meshes. Balls and other loose deviceshave been adopted as the mediums for maintaining the screens in acleanly condition or free from clogging.

,The main object of the present invention is to improve the generalorganization of elements or components comprised in means for cleaning asifting screen by not only arranging a plurality of resilient balls onthe underside of .the'screen and on an open or perforated supportingsurface, but to include transversely extending projecting means on thesaid perforated supporting surface that will render the balls moreeffective and quicker in their bounding action relatively to the siftingscreen above the same, and thus insure the maintenance of the meshes ofthe sifting screen in a free. or fully open or unclogged condition.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the generalstructure and organization of cleaning means for a, sifting screen thatwill. render the same strong and durable and comparatively simple in theassemblage of the several parts as well as the improved screen and moreeffective thereof. 7

lVith the foregoing and other obiects and advantages in view, theinvention consistsin the construction and arrangement of the severalparts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed In thedrawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cleaning attachment embodying thefeatures of the invention, showing a screen thereover.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of cleaning attachment portionof the sifting therefor.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of a portion of the improved device,showing the sifting screen removed and the movable cleaning deviceswithdrawn.

The numeral 5 designates a frame comprising side and end bars 6 and 7 ofany suitable length or dimensionsand of such vertical extent as torender tl'ie'iu'iproved cleaning organization effective in theperformance of its function. At regular inter vals, or. in predeterminedspaced relation. transverse partitionsS are interposed between andsecured to the side bars or frame members 6, these partitions havingopposite parallel sides and extending upwardly nearly the full extent ordepth of the said side bars or frame members. The upper end edges of thepartitions 8 are reduced or reversely beveled in an upward direction toform reduced terminal edges 9. On the top edges of the side and end barsor frame memin the desired function bers 6 and 7 a sifting screen 10 ofany suitable mesh, or which may vary in mesh, is secured. and to thebottom edges of the side and end bars or frame members 6 and 7 asupporting surface 11. is also secured, the said supporting surface 11'beiu g of a reticulated character but coarser in mesh than the siftingscreen 10 above, so that the material proved device between the side orframe bars 6 and in close contact with the lower reticulatedsupporting'surface 11 are wire rods 12, which may be of any suitabledimensions but are preferably of about the diameter of heavy telephonewire, or approximately one-eighth of an inch in diameter. These rods 12are disposed at regular distances apart between the partitions 8 andalso between the opposed end partitions of the series of the latter, andthe end or frame bars 7. The rods 12 project above the upper surface ofthe reticulated supporting bottom or screen 11, and said rods arepreferably circular in cross section. It will be seen that thepartitions together with the upper screen 10 and lower reticulatedsupporting surface 11 conjointly with the side and end bars or framemembers 6 and 7 provide a series of pockets 13, which are preferably ofthe same dimensions, and in these pockets 13 movable devices, preferablyin the form of rubber balls 14:, are mounted for free movement, or sothat they will have an unrestricted bounding action, produced by theoscillation of the screen 10 and the remaining parts of the improveddevice including the reticulated supporting surface or bottom covering11. It will also be seen that the upper reduced edges 9 of the par-'titions 8 are slightly below and out of Ci1- tact'with relation to thesifting screen 10. This latter arrangement permits the sifting screen tobe free for vibration without coming in contact with blunt edges, and bythis means the said screen is more sensitive to viln'ation through thebounding action of the movable cleaning devices or balls let.

The operation of the improved screen cleaning device is very simple.When the sifting screen together with the bars or frame members 6 and T,partitions 8; lower reticijilzn'ed supporting surface 11 and rods l2,are oscillated or vibrated asa unit, the balls 14-. are caused to boundwith considerable force against the upper sifting screen it), and thebounding action or operation of these balls is rendered more effectiveand quicker by striking the rods 12, which divert the said balls intheir bounding action and cause them to contact with various portions ofthe surface of the screen 10 over the several pockets. In other words.the balls L l: are given a greater avti ity in various directio'ns, andtheir bounding action is, as a matter of course, induced. by thereticulated w-rnpporting surface or lower screen ll of coarse mesh tosome extent, but the greater bounding force of the said balls iseffected through their contact with the rods 12. The balls let are freeto move over the rods 12 between their partitions 8 and the end' members7 and side members 6 of the frame, or the said balls during theiroperation 1"ra\'*ers .i dill'erent parts of the compartnients in a verylively manner and are thrown up by engagement with the projectingportions of the rods 12 and strike the upper screen 10, as hereinbeforeindicated. As shown in the accompanying drawing, there will be at leasttwo balls in, each pocket 13, but the-number of balls in the severalpockets, however, may be modified as found necessary and in accordancewith the general dimensions of the improved device. It will also beunderstood that the balls are caused to be further diverted by engagingthose portions of the side and end bars or frame members 6 and 7 exposedto the balls in the several pockets, and the balls will also strike orcontact with the straight sides of the partitions 8, and hence will berendered extraordinarily effective in performing their cleaning functionrelatively to the screen 10.

The wire rods or projections 12, which are circular in cross section andrest in close contact with the lower reticulated or screen supportingsurface 11 and extend continuously across the full width of the saidsupporting surface, cause the balls to bound or jump upwardly atdifferent points lengthwise of the said cross rods or wires and by thismeans an effective auxiliary for operating the balls is providedwhichwill cause the balls to have a bounding action at various locationswithin the compartments. Heretofore, in comparatively coarse mesh orreticulated supporting surfaces, it has been found that the ballsdropping into the meshes of the said supporting surface are more or lessrestricted in their freedom of action by the resistance primarily set upby engagement of the balls with the meshes,

and under this old structure the balls in their initial movement did nothave sufficient D10. mention, or were not advantageously active, whenrising out of the coarse screen-supporting surface and while travellingacross the latter surface, but by the use of the rods embodied in thepresent invention the balls are caused to bound or jump off the lowerreticulated supporting screen surface or mesh and forcefully strike thesifting screen above.

It will be understood that changes in the general dimensions of theimproved cleaning means for sifting screens as hereinbe fore describedmay be adopted and the size of the mesh modified at will withoutdeparting from the spirit of the in vention.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A. sifting means coi'nprising a frame with dividing partitionsextending transversely the full width thereof at distances apart, anupper sifting screen, a lower supporting screen surface having largermesh than the said sifting screen, the two sczeens with the frame andpartitions forming enclosed compartments, rods extending across thecompartments .in contact with and extending slightly above the lowerscreen surface, and resilient balls mounted in the compartments for freemovement and contact with and over the rods to quickly and efiectivelycause a bounding action of the balls when the frame and screens aresubjected to vibratory motion for cleaning the meshes of the uppersifting screen.

2. A sifting means of the class specified, comprising a sieve-like box,an upper sifting screen forming a top covering for the box, a lowercoarser mesh supporting screen providing a bottom for the box,transverse partitions extending fully across the width of the box atintervals, continuous transverse project-ions bearing upon and extendingslightly above the lower supporting screenbetween the partitions and theends of the box, and resilient balls disposed and freely movable in thespaces between the partitions and the latter and the ends. of the boxand having contact with and movable over the said projections to causethe balls to quickly and forcefully bound in different directionsagainst the top sifting screen to maintain the latter in uncloggedcondition.

3. A sifting means of the class specified, comprising a box structurehaving a top sifting screen and a bottom supporting screen securedthereto, the bottom supporting screen being of coarser mesh than thesifting screen, a plurality of partitions extending fully transverselyacross the'box and forming a plurality of compartments, projecting meansbetween the partitions and the latter and the ends of the box andcontinuing fully across and in close relation to the lower supportingscreen terminally secured to the side members of the box and extendingslightly above the surface of the latter screen, the partitions havingparallel sides, and resilient balls in the compartments and freelymovable on the supporting screen and over the projecting means andrendered forcefully active and given a bounding operation in differentdirections by contact with the said means between the partitions and theends of the box to strike the upper sifting screen and maintain themeshes of the latter free of clogging material.

4. A sifting means of the class specified,"

comprising a box-like frame having an upper sifting screen and a lowersupporting screen forming the top and bottom portions 7 the partitionsadjacent to the screen to render the operation of the latter moresensitive, transversely extending rods inthe compartments in closecontact with the lower supporting screen and extending slightly abovethe upper surface of said supporting screen, and resilient balls mountedand freely movable in the compartments and over the rods and havingunrestricted and forceful bounding action to strike the upper siftingscreen and keep the latter free from clogging.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set 1 my hand.

CHANDOS ROY DIMM.

